February 8, 2014

The Principality of Liechtenstein and its neighbour Switzerland are
joined by several bridges over the Rhine, the border river. In the
second part of the “Bridges bring together” series Philately
Liechtenstein turns its attention to the “Foot and Cycle Bridge” (CHF 0.85) “Buchs-Schaan“ (CHF 1.00) and also the “Rhine Bridge”
(CHF 1.40) “Bendern-Haag“ (CHF 1.90).

Until well into the 19th century the Rhine could be crossed only on
ferries. These crossings were not without danger: in 1587 85 people from
Werdenberg drowned in a ferry accident on the way home after a
pilgrimage to the Church of St. Mary in Bendern. In 1868 the first
bridge was built at the Rhine crossing between Bendern (Liechtenstein)
and Haag (Switzerland). It was burned down in 1894, whereupon a new
wooden bridge was erected in 1896. This one collapsed in 1974 after
another fire. Fortunately the concrete bridge of today depicted on the
commemoratives was built in 1965, so that the transport link between the
two countries operated without interruption at the time of the
disaster.

Since the spring of 2009 pedestrians and cyclists in the Rhine local
recreation area have enjoyed an attractive link between Schaan
(Liechtenstein) and Buchs (Switzerland). The 132-metres long bridge
weighing 120 tonnes is suspended over the water on two transversely
positioned steel pylons. The bridge itself is, so to speak, a welcome
spinoff from a much larger construction project, for it represents the
visible heart of an otherwise underground steam pipeline. This just six
kilometres long pipeline supplies three industrial undertakings in
Liechtenstein with process steam from the refuse incineration plant in
Buchs. The annual supply of some 100 tonnes of steam is equivalent to
about 12 million litres of heating oil and contributes every year to the
avoidance of 20,000 tonnes of CO2.

February 7, 2014

It is not yet 150 years since
Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the two countries separated by the Rhine
as border-marking river, were first brought together by shared bridges.

Before
that people and goods were conveyed between the Liechtenstein and Swiss
banks of the Rhine by ferries, five of which were still operating at
the beginning of the 19th century. Only after physical structures
controlling the course of the Rhine had been put in place was it
possible in 1867-68 to build the first wooden bridges, at that time
still uncovered, between Bendern and Haag and between Schaan and Buchs.
The first part of the “Bridges bring together” series illustrates in
greater detail two of these bridges, which have since been a
characterizing feature of the Rhine valley.

The
“Old Rhine bridge” (CHF 0.85) between Vaduz and Sevelen
(“Vaduz-Sevelen”, face value CHF 1.00), which used to be the main link
between Vaduz and neighbouring Switzerland, was built in 1870-1871.
After it had had to be raised twice in the following years, in 1900-1901
it was re-built on the piers of its predecessor. Since the mid 1970s
the Old Rhine bridge has been accessible only to non-motorized traffic.

The
last major renovation was completed in 2010. The “Railway bridge” (face
value CHF 1.40) between “Schaan-Buchs” (face value CHF 1.90), which
later became a subsection of the famous “Orient Express”, was first
crossed in 1872 by a train drawn by a steam locomotive belonging to the
“Vorarlberg Railway”. In the devastating flood disaster of 1927 the
section of the bridge on the Liechtenstein side plunged into the water.
In 1934-35 the present-day 190-metre-long steel bridge was erected on
the river pier of the collapsed bridge. The stamps’ face designs are
based on photographs by Bruno Kopfli from Eschen.

February 3, 2014

The Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined
two-track rail and four-lane road bridge-tunnel across the Öresund
strait. It is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe and
connects the two metropolitan areas of the Öresund Region: the Danish
capital of Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmö. The international
European route E20 runs across the bridge and through the tunnel via the
two lane motorway, as does the Öresund Railway Line. The construction
of the Great Belt Fixed Link and the Øresund have connected mainland
Europe to Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. The bridge was designed by
the Danish architectural practice Dissing+Weitling.

The reason for incurring the additional cost and complexity of building a
tunnel instead of another section of bridge is to avoid obstructing
aircraft from nearby Copenhagen Airport and to provide a clear path for
shipping. The bridge crosses the border between Denmark and Sweden, but
due to the Schengen Agreement and the Nordic Passport Union there are no
passport controls. There are frequent customs checks at the toll booths
for those entering Sweden but not for those entering Denmark.

The Northern Drawbridge to the Citadel in Copenhagen, 1837,
Christen Købke

This view is from the Citadel of Copenhagen towards one of the bridges
of the moat. The artist lived with his family in the Citadel until 1833
and this canvas may have been painted as a souvenir for Købke's mother,
the first recorded owner of the picture. It was preceded by a detailed
drawing and an oil sketch, both of which survive. They show that the
artist made slight alterations in the final painting, adding the two
soldiers who are shown fishing on the far bank of the moat, and omitting
a tree on the right.

Christen Schiellerup Købke (26 May 1810 – 7 February 1848), Danish painter, was born in Copenhagen
to Peter Berendt Købke, a baker, and his wife Cecilie Margrete. He was
one of 11 children. Købke is one of the best known artists belonging to
the Golden Age of Danish Painting.

About me

Classifications

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. Designs of bridges will vary depending on the function of the bridge and the nature of the terrain where the bridge is to be constructed.

A viaduct is a structure sometimes considerable, composed of arches or spans many and raised, sometimes on several stages of vaults, and intended to cross great spaces, valleys, large ravines etc.

An aqueduct (occasionally water bridge) applies to any bridge or viaduct that transports water - instead of a path, road or railway - across a gap.

A culvert is a very small arch bridge of less 6m of opening, comprising only two supports and usually built on a small ravine, a brook etc.